Palestinian factions vow to follow in Kuntar's footsteps

Ahmed Bahr, a senior Hamas official, said that the assassination would only strengthen the “resistance” against Israel.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Updated: DECEMBER 21, 2015 04:13
A Palestinian supporter of the Islamic Jihad holds a picture of Samir Kuntar, (photo credit: MOHAMAD TOROKMAN/REUTERS)
A Palestinian supporter of the Islamic Jihad holds a picture of Samir Kuntar,
(photo credit: MOHAMAD TOROKMAN/REUTERS)
Palestinian factions on Sunday condemned the assassination of Hezbollah operative Samir Kuntar and vowed to follow in his footsteps.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the killing as an Israeli “crime.”
Ahmed Bahr, a senior Hamas official, said that the assassination would only strengthen “resistance” against Israel.
Hamas’s armed wing, Izzadin Kassam, accused the “Zionist enemy” of being behind the assassination. It said that Hamas would remain loyal to Kuntar’s path and “pursue jihad and resistance until the occupation is expelled, the prisoners and holy sites are freed and the right of return is achieved.”
The group described Kuntar as the “martyr of Lebanon and Palestine.”
Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh also accused Israel of being behind the assassination. “Israel must pay the price for this crime,” he said.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in separate statements that they would continue their fight against Israel despite the assassination.
Both terrorist groups praised Kuntar’s role in “supporting” the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority, which does not have relations with Hezbollah, did not comment on Kuntar’s death.